Main navigation

Employers must follow rules when employing children

Breadcrumb

With the school summer holidays about to begin, employers and parents are being reminded of the rules regarding the employment of children who are still of compulsory school age.

Many children will be looking for 'something to do' during the summer break, while at the same time earning some extra money - but there are regulations which exist to safeguard the health and well being of children while they are at work, and to make their first taste of work pleasant and rewarding.

Councillor Val Gibson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "It is important that any child who is employed does so strictly in accordance with the law.

"These rules are not just red tape; they exist to protect the health and physical well being of children while they are at work."

During the school holidays children aged 13 to 14 can work up to 5 hours a day (a maximum of 25 hours per week), children aged 15 to 16 can work up to 8 hours a day (a maximum of 35 hours per week). Children may not work before 7am or after 7pm, and it is illegal to employ a child under the age of 13.

Anyone wishing to employ a child should register the employment by notifying the Child Employment Section, Safeguarding Service, Priory Green Office, Whitburn Close, Pendeford, WV9 5NJ, within seven days of the commencement of the employment.

Children are prohibited from working in a number of settings, including factories, betting shops, fish and chip shops, pubs, theatres and garage forecourts. Door to door selling, canvassing, street trading, cash collection, delivering milk and any kind of building work are also prohibited.

For further advice or to register a child for employment please email childemployment@wolverhampton.gov.uk or call 01902 555233. Alternatively, visit the council's website, where a child employment registration form can also be downloaded.

There are also special licensing requirements for children who perform and in many cases children should not take part in performances except under the authority of a licence granted by the local authority where the child resides. For more information, please visit Type=articles;Articleid=4169;Title=Children in entertainment;.